The Hon’ble President of India, Sri Ram Nath Kovind ji, and First Lady Smt Savita Kovind ji and their daughter Swati Kovind ji were cordially and warmly welcomed by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan, for an auspicious two-day visit to the Ashram that began with the divine and world-renowned Ganga Aarti ceremony this evening. Upon arrival, the Hon’ble President and his family was warmly welcomed with the Ashram’s traditional rituals of tilak and amidst of the auspicious sound of the blowing of conch shells and the shower of flower petals by the Parmarth Rishikumars.

After 1953-54 when the then President of India Respected Dr Rajendra Prasadji visited this is the second official Presidential visit to the Ashram. The Ashram welcomed the Hon’ble President and his family to their Himalayan home for a highly anticipated and awaited two day visit.

In the evening as they arrived onto the holy banks of Mother Ganga at the Parmarth Niketan Ghat with Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji they offered their oblations to the sacred waters of Mother Ganga and performed the purnahuti of the evening Yagya Ceremony dedicated to world peace and health.

Admist sacred Vedic chanting, bhajans and sankirtan they enjoyed the melodious and divine setting of this special ceremony, after which they were formally welcomed home by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji.

Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawatiji shared in her welcome address, “Hon’ble President Ramnath Kovindji’s stellar leadership of India is truly historic. It is a testament to the vision, mission and commitment of a man who, in his youth, had to walk 8 km each way in order to go to school. That dedicated young man grew up to serve as a torchbearer for justice, equality and integrity for people of every race, religion, colour and caste. His leadership – as an advocate for the Supreme Court, as Governor of Bihar and as President of India – is one rooted in dedication to the welfare of all – sarve bhut hite ratah. And that is also the motto, mantra and mission here at Parmarth Niketan.”

Pujya Swamiji shared his admiration for the Hon’ble President, and deeply praised President Kovindji’s incredible life journey, his commitment to the service of the nation and his stellar leadership, as well as memories of their previous meetings. He also shared about the Hon’ble President’s great interest in and commitment to keeping our sacred rivers free from pollution, over-exploitation and extraction.

In line with the emphasis on protection and preservation of Mother Ganga, all water bodies and our natural environment, a new River Ganga anthem inspired by Pujya Swamiji and written by world famous and Grammy award nominee, devotional singer Snatam Kaur and sung by Snatam with Grammy award nominees Deva Premal and Miten Krishna Das, C.C. White A Musical Journey and other world-renowned artists was shared with him and presented in the Ganga Aarti. The anthem is a call to all of us to work together to protect and preserve the waters of this holy river from pollution and to work together to ensure our river’s healthy flow.

The couple enjoyed the song and very much appreciated the efforts of Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Sadhviji, the world-famous artists of the song and all the sevaks and volunteers who serve for Mother Ganga. Together with Pujya Swamiji they joined for a sacred pledge to protect and preserve our National River Ganga and Her tributaries and inspired everyone for climate action.

After receiving the offering of a sacred Rudraksha sapling and sandalwood malas from Pujya Swamiji, Hon’ble President Kovindji offered a powerful keynote address.

Immediately following the addresses, the President and First Lady Ms Savita Kovindji and their daughter enjoyed the sacred Ganga Aarti as they waved the beautiful and ornate oil lamps toward the flowing waters of Mother Ganga. The aarti ceremony concluded with a heart-filled singing of India’s National Anthem. Thereafter the Hon’ble President and First Lady walked back into the Ashram admist earthen lamps lit to honour this historic and special visit.

In the evening there were high-level discussions covering the various programs and initiatives inspired and blessed by Pujya Swamiji and implemented by Parmarth Niketan, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and the Divine Shakti Foundation. Pujya Swamiji shared numerous solutions and innovations for a variety of topics from faecal sludge management, sustainable solid waste management, development of Rudraksha Van (forest of rudraksha trees) and Kedar Smriti Van (forest in memory of those who lost their lives in the Kedarnath floods) and many other inspiring initiatives in the service of the nation.

The Hon’ble President and his family were presented with a sacred sapling of the rudraksh tree to plant at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The rudraksh is Parmarth Niketan’s signature gift as trees give life and rudraksh trees give sacred life!

Pujya Swamiji shared, “I am so glad to be able to share these new innovative technologies with our Hon’ble President who is so dedicated and committed to protection of our water, our air and our natural environment. With his leadership, I know Bharat will continue to become more and more green and eco-friendly. I really love our green and serene President!”

The Hon’ble President also interacted with a group of teachers and students of the Divine Shakti Foundation’s free schools and women’s empowerment programs as well as youth leaders from the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance’s LifeSkills Programme in addition to the team of sevaks and volunteers who serve tirelessly at the Ashram.

He was also presented a copy of Pujya Sadhviji’s newly released best-selling memoir, “Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation.” In presenting the book, Pujya Sadhviji shared that, “It is such an honor and blessing to be able to present this book, my new memoir, to the Hon’ble President. Having lived the last 25 years here at Parmarth Niketan, I am so glad to have the opportunity to share the power of Bharatiya Sanskriti to heal and transform us with the world.”

As the Hon’ble President and his family departed, Pujya Swamiji warmly invited the Hon’ble President to grace the inauguration or concluding ceremony of the 2022 International Yoga Festival from 8-14 March next year!